Non Drug Pain Management Ideas: Arthritis of the Hands: Compression Gloves and Paraffin Dips

In addition to exercise, there are a few more non drug treatments that come to mind for those who are dealing with arthritis of the hands. These ideas are great things to try when you are having more discomfort than usual. They are not necessarily a panacea, but they are worth a try.

The first one that comes to mind is hot/cold applications, (aka contrast hydrotherapy), which I wrote about very recently. You can go back to that blog post by clicking the link above.

The second idea that comes to mind is heat application, which is another of my earlier posts. At the time I was not writing specifically about osteoarthritis of the hands, as it is a useful tool for many pain conditions. Related to this idea--but perhaps more appropriate for hands or feet--is the spa-like treatment of a paraffin dip.

Last but not least, compression gloves can help to reduce pain and swelling in the bony joints of the hands. They are available from a number of internet sites and medical supply stores.

I sure hope that those of you who suffer from arthritis of the hands feel a renewed sense of hope after reading my last two posts. There really is help out there; sometimes it takes a little effort to find what you need to help you along, but in the end, it's all worth the while.

Sources: Everyday Pain Management Ideas; drugstore.com; wisegeek

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